Hi everyone! My name is Paul and I am currently completing my first semester in the M.A. Elementary Inclusive Education – Dual Certification in Teaching Students w/ Disabilities program. As many of you know, TC is home to over one-hundred programs and offers a variety of opportunities for cross-disciplinary studies. I was able to take advantage of one of these amazing opportunities last weekend when I took part in the Imagination and Innovation conference through the Art & Art Education program.
Over the course of three days, I was able to watch fascinating presentations by art educators and art education historians about the evolution of visual art and the implications in today’s schools and classrooms. Additionally, I was blown away by the exhibits and pieces developed by the students in TC’s Historical Foundations of Art Education course (all of which are currently on exhibit at our Macy Gallery!). Not only was I able to delve into content that was new to me, but I was also able to draw upon my own experiences and create connections between the historical role of art in society and the roles of creativity and imagination within my own general elementary classroom.
After two days of presentations, things got a lot more hands on. Following a lecture about the role of art education in the fabric and materials industry at the turn of the 20th century, we hopped on the 1 train and headed down to the Lower East Side to visit the Tenement Museum! There we explored the preserved remains of a small tenement apartment that was owned by a family of Eastern European immigrants and used as a garment sweatshop in the early 1900’s. I often get so caught up in the fast paced lifestyle of New York City, that I forget how much history there is right under my nose, whether in a building that was condemned and abandoned from 1920 until the mid-80’s or in the hallways of TC, established in 1886.
After an amazing tour, we walked a few blocks over to the Abrons Art Center, which is part of the Henry Street Settlement. The center has a long-standing relationship with the TC, as our students are viewed as great candidates for internships and job positions. The Abrons Art Center is unique in that it is part of a settlement organization, which is not something you might expect for a contemporary art center. It was refreshing to see a variety of cutting-edge performances, exhibitions, classes and workshops being provided to enrich the lives of children in the Lower East Side community. In addition, the center offered social services and health care to the Henry Street Settlement. On this visit, we used glue and paint to create a collage, reflecting on our experience in our community! Overall, it was a great weekend. I got to explore a program outside of my department, experience history first hand, and connect with an amazing community resource serving a diverse neighborhood of NYC!
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